"Cakeuphoria?"
"Uh huh."

Ethan looked at me and the bakery alternatively for a while before clearing his throat and finally asking,
"Is it okay to say that I've lived in Marysville all my life but have never heard of this bakery?"

"Yes!" I grinned brightly.

Ethan looked unsure at my enthusiasm and awkwardly smiled back before asking, "I see. Then how do you know it?"

"It's my grandmother's."
"Oh shi-"
He bit his tongue just as Nana peeked from inside the bakery.

"Thia! What are you doing?"

I grinned at her too and motioned for Ethan to follow me. The bakery door opened and the smell of chocolate and cinnamon hit me like a truck. I noticed Ethan curiously looking around before finally zeroing his stare on the display shelves.

"Hi Nana! I have good news for you! Also, this is Ethan. I found him dumping Darling's brownies and I just had to bring him here to show him what brownies should really taste like."

Nana dusted her hand on her apron before coming out to the front, with the biggest possible grin I've ever seen on her face.

"Really? That must have been really bad for you to just throw it away."
Nana made an expectant face and Ethan shared a look with me that read 'what am I supposed to say?"

I obviously chose to be helpful and shrugged in response with a wink. He cleared his throat again before putting on a smile and answering.
"Yes! I almost decided to never eat a brownie again until Cynthia here told me she knew the best place and brought me to you."

Nana looked like she was about to faint with happiness as she giggled like a child.
"Oh nonsense! Best? Pfft. But I'll give you our chocolate fudge brownies. It's on the house!"

I motioned Ethan to take a seat before moving towards the connecting door and inside the house to drop my purse. The moment I closed the door to my room, it all came back to me. I still had a huge decision to make and there I was, feeding the person who catfished me on a date my Nana's brownies. I couldn't go that easy on him after all. Moreover I needed my time to think before I come to a decision. So I decided to urge Ethan to leave when I go back down and discuss things with Nana without revealing as many details as possible.

When I did finally go back down to the bakery, I was surprised to see Nana sitting opposite Ethan on a table, laughing loudly! Noah was sulking behind the counters as usual and Nana's loud voice echoed through the otherwise empty bakery.

"I know right! Our Thia has the worst temper at times. She gets it from me actually."

And they broke into fits of laughter again. I decided it was time to intervene and pulled a chair to their table, settling in the middle.

"What are you two talking about?"

Ethan shrugged nonchalantly before smiling brightly at Nana.
"Oh nothing much. Nana, I have to say this again, these brownies are the best that I have ever had really. I must have been crazy to not find out about your bakery all this time."

Nana smiled with pride before replying,
"Oh don't mention! This bakery is as empty as it gets. People hardly come across here. I really hope you will visit again. What was your name again?"

Ethan cleared his throat and smiled back at Nana, who stared expectantly.
"I should have introduced myself first thing. Nice to meet you, ma'am, I am Ethan Swain."

And he smiled. But Nana frowned.

"Ethan?"
The warmth in her voice was gone and I realised a second too late what went wrong. By then, Nana had already said, "So you are the one who scammed my granddaughter?"

A cold silence spread through the sunny bakery. I could see Noah peeking from inside with squinted eyes and his forever lasting frown. Ethan looked dumbfounded and looked at me for help but I was far too busy observing Nana to say anything.

"Uh... Um, actually-"

Nana scrunched up her eyes and increased the intensity of her glare. That's when I saw Ethan suddenly sitting up straight, with a strange spark in his eye; the cowardice and guilt all gone.

"I would like to formally apologise to you as well since you are a guardian figure to Cynthia. But before that, since we were on the topic previously, would you like your Bakery to be advertised?"

I saw another change in Nana's demeanour. Her eyes widened slightly and it looked like she was contemplating while I had the serious urge to kick something, bonus points if it looks like Ethan. He was so cunning at evading matters of important that it got under my skin.

Nana cleared her throat and in a much more moderate tone asked, "Free of cost?"

"Absolutely," Ethan grinned brightly, "I am actually an educational consultant, I have some connections in some really good schools and universities. I can ask them to add certain baked goods to their lunch menu."

I choked on my own spit. Somehow that dork had come up with the same plan as me but clearly he had more connections and he announced the idea to Nana before I could. Before my own thoughts provoked me further, a voice in my head reminded me that I had already set the deal and hence, I could deem myself a step ahead of him. Before I could indulge in slight self praise, I heard Nana commend his plan with an appreciable stare. I decided that it was now or never.

"It's crazy, really."

Ethan looked taken aback and so did Nana. I learnt that leaving my sentence at odd intervals wasn't a good idea so I continued just as fast.

"No, I mean I thought of the same thing earlier today and I already talked to the Chairman. He is willing to add your brownies to the lunch menu."

Ethan looked at me with raised eyebrows and I mouthed a quiet 'what?' to him to which he did a weird signal. Nana was quiet. Her eyes looked out of focus. I was about to ask her if everything was alright when she suddenly banged the table and stood up, proceeding to startle both Ethan and me.

"Then I have so much work to do! That school is huge and I have to give my best touchups."

With a dazed smile she patted my head and Ethan's shoulder and ran off to the kitchen.

"Woah! Shouldn't you help out too?"

"Look at this misbehaving guest-"

"Who? Where?"

"You!"

He put a hand to his chest after my exclamation as if he was physically wounded by my words.

"I cannot believe you said that! But wait, I think I'm glad too." He got up from the chair halfway through his sentence, "I needed a teacher's feedback about the school you're in. You can help me out."

"And why would I?"
"Why wouldn't you?"
"Because you catfished me!"
"Oh well-" he picked up a brownie from the dish and slipped it into my gaping mouth, "would you like a brownie?"

Needless to say, Noah had to intervene to pull me away from Ethan, while requesting for backup, "Nana, Thia's homicidal!"